Archive of Our Own

Introduction

Iris Wen is, objectively, the hardest character in the game to romance. Out of all 4 love interests, not only is she the ONLY ONE whose affection can be lowered by the choices you make, she's also the only one whose choices seem contradictory to what you'd expect from a typical otome game. Usually, in traditional otomes, you would win a character's favor by paying special attention to them and showering them with kindness and affection.

But with Iris? Not so simple. Her affection meter can rise when you ignore her, or even outright lower if you pay too much attention to her. Frankly, a lot of these changes in affection values don't actually make a lot of sense until you actually play through Iris’s route and epilogue for the first time. It's only in hindsight or through a replay that things start clicking about her psyche and character. Iris Wen is a complicated, multifaceted woman whose personality traits at first glance seem conflicting and incongruent, but once parts of her personality are broken down, we discover a brilliant, flawed, and difficult yet beautifully whole character behind all of her mess.

To understand all of her complexities, we’ll do a deep dive into her route, analyzing the dialogue choices presented in each event. By breaking down how each of these options affect her affection or hidden “???” values, we will uncover what each choice says about her personality and how they tie into her backstory.

(Note: there will be spoilers for the entirety of Iris’s route and epilogue below! This write-up will assume that anyone reading has already finished going through Iris’s whole story. If you have not yet completed her story, please do so before reading this analysis!)

Event 1 - Meeting Iris as a barista

When we meet Iris for the first time at the café, both her and Selene’s reactions are pure astonishment.

On a first playthrough, it’s easy to brush off Iris’s shock at seeing Selene here as just normal, benign surprise when encountering her underclassman at an unexpected place—which is exactly what Selene chalks it up to when we play through her point of view. It’s a brief, unexpected moment that Selene doesn’t linger on. But let’s pay attention to Iris’s immediate response when greeting Selene:

Iris’s gut instinct is to frame her presence as a barista as simply a favor toward someone else. She presents herself as someone who is considerate and works part time only to help others, effectively dismissing the notion that she actually needs the job to make ends meet. Out of all the university students shown in the game, Iris is notably the only one working a part-time job. Given that Iris and Selene both attend the same top-ranking university, they’re surrounded by people who are smart and presumably have many resources at their disposal—namely, wealth, which is something that Iris lacks.

Iris is quick to protect her image as one of those ‘elite’ students. After all, she’s only just met Selene, and it wouldn’t do to have her perfect mask fall apart so quickly now, would it?

Now, moving on. When Iris swings by with Selene’s order, we’re presented with our very first dialogue choice in her route.

Choice 1:

• Thanks for your hard work
• Hand her a napkin (❤️ + 6%)

This choice is one of the more straightforward ones, even if the difference is subtle. While both options show gratitude for her services, handing her a napkin is a more thoughtful action that shows Selene is observant and cares about Iris's well-being. 

Iris’s reaction here if Selene hands her a napkin is one of genuine surprise. It’s likely that, for someone like her who’s always looking out for others, she’s rarely received the same care in turn. As an elder sister saddled with responsibilities, she’s not accustomed to others noticing her struggles.

Given this massive increase in affection (+6%), Iris's love language may well be acts of service. She's touched by Selene's observant nature and appreciates the rare moment in which someone is finally seeing her and taking the initiative to help her. The fact that Selene wordlessly hands over a napkin also helps protect Iris’s pride.

At the end of the date event, we’re given a choice either to let Selene walk up to Iris and announce her departure or just text her.

Choice 2:

• Say goodbye to Iris in-person
• Text Iris goodbye (❤️ + 3%)

If you haven't been following a guide, most people would probably pick the first option, because one would normally presume it’s the more friendly choice. Texting feels distant and impersonal. But if you're a save scummer like me who decides to reload and pick the second option, you'll probably be shocked to find out that texting her instead gives you the affection points!

Right off the bat from this first event, we already find something a bit peculiar about Iris. Her preference for being texted instead of approached probably suggests that she wants to be left alone when she’s busy and that she appreciates Selene for giving her space. This choice already sets the tone for our future interactions with her and foreshadows her distant nature that we'll later see when Selene and Iris actually date. In a way, it’s only really in hindsight after playing through her route that this option makes sense.

Event 2 - The nursing home

For the second date event, Selene has another chance encounter with Iris at the nursing home. Here is the first time we learn about her role as a caregiver and how she’s naturally good at looking after others. Iris is shown to be sweet and respectful to the elderly lady they’re tending to, and we even find out that she’s knowledgeable about tinkering with electronics. Seriously, what can’t she do?

Putting her skills to use, Iris takes the initiative to fix the elderly lady’s radio. As the player, we’re given the choice either to let Selene begin small talk or make her stay quiet.

Choice 1:

• Ask about the radio
• Don't bother her (❤️ + 3%)

And wouldn’t you know it—not bothering Iris grants us affection points! Again, another peculiar case of her affection meter increasing with the option that leaves her alone. One would expect that making conversation is solid grounds for advancing a relationship, but no—this isn’t necessarily the case for Iris. Already, we’re seeing a pattern that Iris is someone who prefers having space to think and exist in peace while she’s working.

Choice 2:

• Talk about yourself (❤️ - 6%)
• Comfort her (❤️ + 3%)

Here comes our first opportunity to lose affection with Iris. For the record, sharing personal stories while getting to know someone is not inherently a bad thing. It’s the cornerstone of building a connection with someone. All relationships—whether platonic or romantic—develop as you get to learn about each other. The difference is Iris is obviously looking a bit pensive when talking about her younger siblings, and if you don’t catch onto her odd change in behavior and allow Selene to start yapping about herself, you’ll instantly get dinged with a whopping -6% to her affection meter.

(Does this look like the face of someone who wants to hear about your life story right now? Selene, read the room!!!)

Now, if you’ve been extremely unlucky or horrendously rizzless thus far, it’s entirely possible for her affection meter to end up like this:

And if you’re brave and commit to reading the rest of the dialogue even if you mess up, we already discover some important foreshadowing to how Iris feels in regards to growing up with younger siblings.

Her words seem to carry a bit of envy, and it’s really not until later that we can truly understand the weight and the bitterness of these sentiments. The writers do an excellent job at placing hints here and there that clue us in on her family situation, and it ties in perfectly to what she reveals later in her Bad Ending.

In fact, Iris’s grievances toward being the eldest child have everything to do with how complicated and tangled her mind is. Her resentment shapes how she interacts with those around her, and it is the underlying reason for her insecurities and complex relationship with love. Learning that she’s been pressured to be the perfect role model for her younger siblings is the key to understanding her character and will serve as the foundation for the rest of this analysis.

Event 3 - Iris goes to the infirmary

The infirmary event is the first time we actually see the extent of Iris’s weariness juggling all her responsibilities. When Selene carries Iris to the infirmary, she can’t help but look on in concern as Iris gets a needle inserted to her arm. She notices Iris’s fear of needles, the exhaustion in her face underneath all her makeup, and the paleness of her skin.

As Iris makes eye contact with Selene, we’re given another dialogue branch to determine how Selene will approach her.

Choice 1:

• Look away (❤️ + 3%)
• Give her advice

This choice is another tricky one. Some people appreciate being offered advice, but others may find it patronizing. Because this is an otome game, it’s reasonable to assume that looking away is an action that might signal indifference or lack of care—but judging from the increase in affection from Iris, that’s not how she sees it.

The fact that Iris actually prefers if Selene looks away suggests that she doesn't want to be perceived at all in this moment. She’s uncomfortable showing weakness. Her mask has accidentally slipped, and now she looks frail in front of her favorite underclassman. Giving her advice at a time like this only draws attention to the fact that she’s struggling—something she hates revealing as a perfectionist and as someone who takes pride in her own competence. Looking away offers her a moment of privacy when she’s at her lowest.

As they speak more, Selene asks if work has been keeping Iris busy. Iris responds vaguely, almost in an attempt to downplay her fatigue.

Choice 2:

• Offer to help (❤️ + 6%)
• Comfort her 

Offering to help is another instance where an act of service grants you affection points. Whether Iris wants to admit it or not, she does want someone else to rely on. When she lays her head on Selene and thanks her, she's taking a rare moment to indulge in that part of herself that wants to be supported. Simply offering comfort provides no concrete value to her. Again, she appreciates initiative and action—deeds that can lessen her burdens.

Event 4 - Selene helps Iris at the student council (Part 1)

The student council room is a special place for Selene and Iris. It’s where they first meet, and it’s the place where they’ve spent the most time together, quietly completing all sorts of mundane, repetitive tasks with each other. Just like whenever Selene visits the café, they get these small moments to share a quiet, peaceful companionship working side by side. Selene fondly reflects upon how she feels closer to Iris lately, and as she looks over at Iris, she wonders if Iris feels the same.

Thankfully, our first time seeing them together at the student council is one of the few events where it doesn’t feel like we’re fighting for our lives trying to get a read on Iris. In this following selection, we’re given the option to allow Selene to continue staring at Iris even when caught or look away.

Choice 1:

• Continue looking (❤️ + 3%)
• Look away

This choice is delightful. The option that increases affection value provides some amusing insight that Iris likes it if Selene checks her out, LMAO. It’s a funny contrast compared to the previous event where looking away is the ‘correct’ choice, while continuing to stare here endears Selene to Iris a bit more.

Choice 2:

• Apologize (❤️ + 3%)
• I'm so tired

I found this choice kind of amusing as well. Iris prefers if Selene is a bit apologetic about falling asleep on the job instead of complaining about how tired she is. Iris is a fan of people who just put their head down to work and don't whine about it. Because she has spent so much time being resilient and capable for everyone else, it reinforces her values of work ethic over emotional venting.

Event 5 - Selene helps Iris at the student council (Part 2)

In our second date event with Iris at the student council, Selene offers some important introspection in regards to how she views Iris. Even from the very beginning—back at the café— Selene has been aware that Iris is always putting up a front. 

But here at the student council, Selene is more conscious of Iris’s mask, even acknowledging that Iris’s praise for her seems almost superficial.

Despite seeing right through her, Selene isn’t offended by Iris putting on a mask with her. She acknowledges that everyone shows a different side of themselves in different settings, so she doesn’t mind. It’s just human nature.

Immediately after complimenting Selene, Iris asks if she would like any compensation for all the assistance she has provided to the student council. On its own, this gesture is innocuous—gracious, even—but paired with how Selene catches onto Iris’s previous praise toward her as being a bit performative, we might have adequate reason to suspect that Iris could be on edge about owing Selene a favor.

Here, we are presented with the option to allow Selene to cash in on the favor or pass on it.

Choice 1:

•  I need your help with something (❤️ + 6%)
•  No worries (❤️ + 3%)

The differences between these two options are fascinating. Both increase affection but in different amounts. Iris is a people pleaser, but at the same time she feels irritation in finding more work for herself—so naturally, she would be relieved if Selene doesn't ask anything of her. But what’s intriguing is that Selene admitting she wants help increases her affection even more! Iris actually wants Selene to be honest and seek her out if she needs something.

Is this an inconsistency in her personality, or a hint that she’s just unpredictable and that her preferences vary from case to case? Well... she's a complicated woman! Iris says it best herself here:

Iris actually likes being given the opportunity to help. She genuinely finds satisfaction in how her deeds contribute to her image as a dependable xuejie, as it offers her meaning in living. This image, however, burdens her with an immense sense of pressure, and it compounds the more successful and the more reliable she seems to others. The more reliable she seems, the more responsibility she has to bear. In a way, it’s a strange negative feedback loop, which obviously leads to feelings of fatigue—and ultimately, resentment.

These conflicting feelings toward becoming a beloved and popular xuejie are so interesting… Her satisfaction and resentment are contradictory yet coexist because these emotions and her relationship with her self-image mutually influence each other. She isn’t just pleased knowing she’s well-liked, because that comes with the weight of staying perfect; likewise, she isn’t just resentful either, because feeling loved and respected is something she’s craved her whole life.

So yes, while Iris appreciates if Selene doesn’t take advantage of her kindness, she’s still completely willing to take the opportunity to bolster her image. If we also consider how Selene is helping out because she’s seen firsthand how stretched thin Iris is after the infirmary event, we can surmise that Iris wants an opportunity to pay her back for all the help she’s given—and perhaps repair the perfect mask she has presented to Selene.

Regardless of which answer you choose, Iris finds out that Selene needs help studying for finals. And Iris, ever the resourceful xuejie, manages to provide Selene with a copy of exam questions from previous years. The help is so immense and impactful that Selene remarks that she’s the one who owes Iris another favor now.

 Choice 2:

• How do you want to be repaid? (❤️ + 6%)
• Such kindness cannot be repaid

This interaction is cute... Iris likes it when Selene is a bit cheeky and tosses the question back at her. The difference here, too, is that Selene is more direct in asking about what Iris wants, rather leaving the weight of her gratitude ambiguous by simply calling Iris's help priceless. Rather, if Selene asks directly how Iris wants to be repaid, she's offering a tangible reward that Iris can freely choose herself.

For Iris, who feels like she’s been limited by her life opportunities and rarely has the opportunity to make selfish decisions, Selene simply offering her a choice is a touching gesture. Indeed, if we do pick the second option, Iris just tells Selene to study well on her finals. Iris is inherently selfless and won’t ask for anything for herself.

Event 6 - Drunk Iris!!!

(Look at how adorable she is!!!)

This is one of the dates where the choices themselves are less important in terms of Iris’s characterization compared to the story itself. The major takeaway of this event is that Selene realizes others see her as the closest to Iris and think of her as the best person to call if Iris needs to be taken home.

This passage is meaningful because it reinforces something that Megan has told Selene before back in chapter one before the group BBQ dinner: that Iris doesn’t normally go on outings with others. 

(Note: This passage is now locked behind more conditions for new players. Eleanor, Nyx, and Iris must each have at least 12% affection in order to proceed onto the group BBQ scene.)

Selene is special to her. Iris specifically goes out of her way for her—whether that means helping Selene land an internship at her dream company, or spending her limited savings on BBQ dinners with random strangers just to celebrate her getting hired. Naturally, to Megan, that means Selene is the most suited to take care of her in moments like these.

And does Selene certainly try her best…! In a heroic save, Selene manages to protect Iris from walking into random things by inserting her hand between Iris’s forehead and the door. Unfortunately, Selene takes the brunt of the pain with the collision and winces in agony.

(But to protect that beautiful face? The sacrifice is worth it.)

To make up for it, Iris grabs Selene’s hand and presses a kiss to the back of it. 😳

Choice 1:

• Pull away (❤️ + 3%)
• …

Pulling away shows that Selene doesn’t want to be a burden for something so minor—a gesture which Iris subconsciously appreciates even though she’s drunk. The funny thing is that Iris actually chases after Selene and clings onto her more stubbornly if she tries to back away, like a predator chasing its prey.

Choice 2:

• Let her stay at my apartment (❤️ + 3%)
• Take her to a hotel

I’ll be honest, I have nothing productive to say about this part—just WHY didn’t we get an aftermath scene showing what happens when Iris wakes up at Selene’s place!!! Or her reaction if Selene decides to dump her at a hotel!!! I need to see it!!!

Event 7 - Selene sings Iris’s praises

This date event takes place during March, which means that the school semester will end in a few more months. As a senior, Iris is due to graduate soon, and Selene expresses her sorrow that the time for Iris to leave is fast approaching.

Choice 1:

• Yes (??? + 10%)
• I feel reluctant (❤️ + 3%)

Ooh, we're finally getting our first encounter with Iris's hidden “???” meter... Now we’re really getting into the meat of her character.

Let’s take a chance here to define what Iris’s hidden “???” meter actually means. One of the most clever and unique gameplay mechanics in Love Curse: Find Your Soulmate is the inclusion of the “???” meter—a hidden trait whose value is the determining factor in achieving a character’s Happy Ending (HE) or Bad Ending (BE). If you’ve played through the routes of the other love interests, you’ll understand that each of their hidden “???” meters represents different things. 

Figuring out what this hidden value means and working out what choices increase its value is a fun exercise in deciphering what it says about the character you’re pursuing. While the affection meter is a more straightforward gauge that represents how much a character likes Selene, the hidden “???” meter symbolizes the heroine’s attitude toward her. The interplay between these two values and a player’s comprehension of them is what makes this game so special, because the gameplay—learning to understand a character to the depths of their soul—feels almost like a puzzle, immersive and engaging. 

For Iris specifically, reaching 50% “???” grants us the “You're Mine” Steam achievement, which is the unlock requirement for her BE.

As we all know, Iris’s (legendary, thrilling, sexy) BE involves drugging, kidnapping, and imprisonment as a means to forcefully keep Selene by her side—actions that indicate “possessiveness”. Therefore, dialogue options that increase the hidden “???” meter directly contribute to her level of possessiveness toward Selene.

So, why does saying “Yes” here increase it? While we know that the “???” meter has something to do with possessiveness, it’s another thing entirely to understand why certain choices contribute to it. The distinction between the two choices isn't immediately obvious, but let's just file this away for now and come back to it later.

As the conversation continues, Selene abruptly veers the topic to Iris’s reputation during her time at school, listing off all her accomplishments like rapid fire.

One important detail that I had missed in terms of cultural context since I’m a foreigner is that Iris had refused a ‘保研’ (bǎoyǎn), a highly prestigious and competitive system that allows top-performing undergraduate students to secure a spot in graduate school without the need to take the ‘考研’ (kǎo​yán), the grueling national entrance examination for graduate schools.

To qualify, students are evaluated based on criteria such as their academic performance, awards, publications, and social work or leadership. Upon qualification, students then undergo an interview process at the graduate school of their choice and are either accepted or rejected based on how well they do during the interview.

An exemption from the national exam is highly coveted because the exam itself is an extremely rigorous, stressful step towards attending graduate school that may not even pan out. Millions of applicants compete for limited graduate school openings every year, with admissions rates hovering around 20-25%. If you fail the test, you’ll need to take it next year, or just give up on that path. Spots for exemptions are limited, and not all undergraduate universities have the authority to grant them. Hence, securing a baoyan is both an honor and a relief.

In short, Iris is a genius. She is the cream of the crop, even within a top university. But it’s highly implied that she turns down the exemption and sacrifices her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to further her education so that she could enter the workforce ASAP and support her family. She’s so impressive and hardworking, but she selflessly chooses family over her own aspirations.

Even though Iris is embarrassed by all of Selene’s praise, she’s clearly touched by how much attention she’s paid to her. In fact, aside from the drunk date event where Selene picks up Iris from the karaoke bar, this is the first time where we actually see Iris blush!

Choice 2:

• Xuejie, are you feeling embarrassed? (❤️ + 3%)
• Change the subject (??? + 5%)

This milestone is so significant because we can actually see that Iris gets flustered by Selene’s praise. It’s possible that, for the first time in her life, someone is actually taking notice of everything she has achieved. Even Iris admits that she’d nearly forgotten everything she’s done—and she is probably the type of person who downplays how hard she’s worked herself—but Selene is the first person who actually sees the amount of effort she has put in and acknowledges how incredible she is. For someone who tries so hard to fit in, that sort of validation means the world to Iris.

If Selene drops the subject, however, Iris’s hidden “???” meter increases… Could it be that she’s displeased if Selene doesn’t go on? Haha, she’s quite a fragile woman, isn’t she? Let’s get to what that means later.

Event 8 - The shopping date

Finally, we’re getting another encounter where Selene and Iris meet outside of school. They go window shopping together, passing by a boutique that Selene remarks is right up Iris’s alley in style. Iris suggests they go in together, and Selene can either agree or turn her down.

Choice 1:

• Pick clothes together (❤️ + 3%)
• Refuse (??? + 5%)

Here, we have another opportunity to raise Iris’s hidden “???” meter… Right now, even if we take into account the last date event, there doesn’t seem to be a coherent theme yet for why these specific interactions trigger her possessiveness. For now, let’s just keep in mind that a rejection or a refusal here increases it.

An interesting thing to note about these two choices is that if we choose the option to pick clothes together, Iris suddenly seems ambivalent about going inside the shop, perhaps bemused by Selene’s enthusiasm.

Yet if we try and refuse, Iris instantly doubles down and insists on taking Selene inside to try out clothes. Not only that, but she actually calls their outing a date?! Absolutely diabolical.

Again, let’s just keep in mind that refusing increases her hidden “???” meter, as well as the fact that she becomes a bit more persistent if it seems Selene might turn down her offer.

Event 9 - Selene embarrasses herself in front of Iris at the café

This date event is a complete war zone. None of the upcoming options increase Iris’s affection—only one chance to decrease and two chances to increase for her hidden “???” meter. In fact, this is the only date event in the entire game that does not feature any ways to increase affection for the heroine you are pursuing.

With this upcoming choice, Selene notices Iris looking troubled as she responds to a text. Iris explains she’s just dealing with a work-related matter, and due to Selene’s busybody nature, we are provided a chance to meddle a bit.

Choice 1:

• Show her you care (??? + 5%)
• Press for more details (❤️ - 3%)

Unlike at the infirmary, Selene’s show of concern and offer to help actually increases Iris’s hidden “???” meter and not her affection one. The difference lies in the fact that Selene does receive some value from helping out at the student council—namely credits. Her offering to help Iris with what she claims is just work-related matters is a different thing entirely. Selene is attempting to broach parts of Iris’s life that have nothing to do with her at all.

For Iris—someone who is performatively altruistic—this sort of behavior is baffling. What material value does Selene gain from that? She is totally taken aback by Selene’s worry and turns down her support.

Of course, for the second option, being too nosy and pressing for details straightforwardly decreases her affection.

The perils of this date event, unfortunately, aren’t over yet. As they continue interacting, they somehow run into a bout of misconnection in which Selene accidentally spills her coffee all over the table.

Choice 2:

• No need (??? + 5%)
• I'm full

This whole situation with Selene dropping her drink makes this date event probably one of—if not the most uncomfortable ones in the game for me to read through. Selene commits a faux pas in front of her crush, and Iris is clearly irritated by the blunder. As a part-timer working in food service, cleaning up a mess is never something an employee wants to do. No one wants more work for themselves.

What makes it worse is that Iris offers to brew Selene another cup of coffee to make up for her mistake. Extremely awkward…

Both of these options end up refusing Iris’s offer to brew Selene another drink, but what exactly sets them apart? The difference also made me scratch my head for a while, but my friend banditchika cracked the code, so I’ll give credit to them here for this idea! Although both of these choices turn Iris down, they do so in subtle, distinct ways.

If we choose “I’m full”, Selene clarifies to Iris that making a new cup would go to waste, since she wouldn’t be able to finish it anyway. Choosing “No need”, however, leaves room for interpretation that Selene does want another drink but doesn’t want to burden Iris. Selene being upset is also more obvious. In contrast to the “I’m full” option, Iris actually smiles at Selene to try and smooth over the tension.

Just like with the shopping date event, Iris’s hidden “???” meter seems to increase when you deny her the opportunity of helping or providing value to Selene. Huh… Why is this? Is it perhaps that she feels slighted? Maybe… But why would her taking offense to something actually increase her possessiveness meter?

Well, like we’ve established before, Iris is someone who takes a lot of pride in her image. She ties the entirety of her self-worth to it. She wants to be able to show Selene that she’s reliable and helpful, because to her, that means she is worth something. Actions or words that directly threaten her image increase her level of possessiveness because she becomes desperate to prove that she is worthy of being loved. When you deny her the chance of showing Selene she’s a reliable xuejie, her desperation—her possessiveness—intensifies. Yet the opposite is still true: when you validate her mask, she feels emboldened but not necessarily secure, so her hidden “???” meter also increases.

Despite seeming a bit contradictory, threats and validation of Iris’s image feed into her possessiveness toward Selene. Both trigger the same survival instinct in her: to cling harder, and more frantically. Especially after reading the epilogue, we realize that Iris has a terrible complex about not feeling she quite belongs and that she is unworthy of Selene. Feeding into her sense of self-worth makes Iris cling desperately onto those feelings of validation, so she’ll be compelled to prove herself by whatever means necessary.

Remember this option from the 7th date event?

• Yes (??? + 10%)
• I feel reluctant (❤️ + 3%)

Within this framework, suddenly the reasoning for which option increases possessiveness becomes clear. For this specific case, the important thing to pay attention to is what Selene says after each choice. If she says “I feel reluctant”, she is expressing her regret about losing out on the time they'll get to spend with each other in a more general manner.

Indeed, Iris responds accordingly that they can still keep in touch after graduation—outside of school. 

However, if Selene says "Yes", she is talking about spending time with Iris in the context of within school. 

Here, Selene indirectly admits that she uses school activities—presumably student council activities specifically—to spend time with Iris. The school environment is Iris’s stage. Being at the university is where Iris feels the most pressure to perform and put on a mask with others. When Iris hears from Selene she’ll be sad not hanging out with her on campus anymore, it’s likely that Iris thinks Selene only likes spending time with her when she sees her as a reliable xuejie or a student council president.

Again, because Iris has admitted she wants to surround herself with feelings of admiration and adoration, choosing “Yes” consequently reinforces her presumption that she’s only worth something if she’s perfect. She wants Selene to stay by her side as someone who can validate her and assuage her worries—or more cynically, if we reach her BE, keep her around to feed her ego.

Wrapping back around to event #8, the shopping date, the same logic applies.

• Pick clothes together (❤️ + 3%)
• Refuse (??? + 5%)

Refusing Iris here is an attempt to deny her the opportunity to prove herself to Selene, to show that she is more than capable of dressing her up fashionably. Remember how enthusiastic she seems if Selene tries to say no? Iris’s insistence isn’t just a funny quirk—it’s an anxious reaction. She takes offense to the notion that she might not be useful, so she takes things into her own hands and drags Selene in herself, using blatant flirtation to catch Selene off guard so she can have her way.

Event 10 - Selene finds out about the secret beef between Iris and Victoria

One day as Selene goes about her workday at Huanyu, she catches a glimpse of an old group photo of Huanyu employees—Iris being amongst them. A coworker walks by and remarks how Iris used to be a stellar intern, though she didn’t stay long due to frequent alleged squabbles with Executive Qi. We have the choice here either to be nosy or to cut off the needless slander.

Choice 1:

• Ask
• Stop her from continuing (Iris + 3%)

The decision to have Iris’s affection increase at all with one of these options is a bit baffling, considering she’s not even there. What is it… is Iris secretly peeping? Is her friend from HR snooping and giving her the lowdown of what Selene is talking about behind her back? Who knows. Either way, obviously refusing to pry is always a good thing.

…But, of course, Selene still decides to do so anyway the next time she meets with Iris.

Now that we’ve established how Iris’s hidden “???” meter works, being able to predict increases to her possessiveness level becomes rather straightforward. Iris’s first reaction upon Selene broaching the subject of her past at Huanyu is this:

Iris is instantly put on the defensive. She realizes that this topic of conversation is veering into a dangerous path that will threaten Selene’s impression of her—something that she’s tried so hard to maintain. The rest of the dialogue repeatedly references her image and how she presents herself to others, bringing to attention how her perfect façade is in jeopardy.

Up until this part, Iris has been unsmiling and pensive this whole time. Although Iris manages to say this last line with a smile, her concern underneath is very obvious. She knows that Selene’s impression of her is at the risk of crumbling. And if we decide to push it with this next choice, rather than letting it slide…

Choice 2:

• Why did you leave?
• Did something happen? (??? + 5%)

…yes, her hidden “???” meter predictably increases! Pushing for details about her fumble at Huanyu is a threat to her image—something that she does not take kindly to. It’s clear from her evasiveness in this event that Iris is desperate to take back control of the narrative and provide non-answers so that Selene will just drop the subject. Indeed, choosing “Why did you leave?” does allow Iris to spin her own story as opposed to letting Selene’s imagination run amok.

Event 11 - The movie date

As with every movie date, it’s customary to discuss the plot and your enjoyment of the film you just watched. At this point, Selene has a full-blown crush on Iris and is hyper-conscious of what she thinks or feels. As they leave the movie theater, Selene notices that Iris didn’t seem to particularly enjoy the ending, and she nervously asks for her opinion.

Selene can either disagree or ask for clarification.

Choice 1:

• Refute her response
• Ask for her thoughts (❤️ + 3% and ??? +5%)

Before learning about Iris’s backstory, this moment is the first time we actually get the most significant foreshadowing about her real nature: her possessiveness behind her gentle façade. Choosing the second option allows Iris to voice her deepest, darkest feelings:

Whoa. Even Selene is shocked and can’t help but comment on how extreme these thoughts are. In a blind playthrough, Iris’s remark does seem quite out of pocket for someone who’s shown to be pretty mild and gentle thus far.

The date proceeds to Selene’s apartment, where Iris meets Bell.

Choice 2:

• Do you like cats?
• You can visit often if you'd like (❤️ + 3%)

Here, we learn that Iris likes cats! So much so that she doesn’t even mind when Bell acts hissy toward her. Even though there isn’t much noteworthy in these options by themselves, there’s a greater narrative purpose for why Iris’s love of cats gets introduced in this date event.

The reveal of her tragic backstory about her cat being given away offers an immediate explanation for her extreme thoughts from earlier: her desire to keep something precious by all means necessary. Iris has already experienced losing something she loves—something she’s tried so hard to find again and cling onto. Learning about this trauma is crucial to understanding how she comes to associate failure with loss and inadequacy.

Route locked in: Selene dates Iris!

Okay, we’re locked into Iris’s ending, yayyy! From here on out, any increases in affection don’t really matter unless you’re going for the 100% affection achievement. What does matter, though, is how many hidden “???” points there are left to gain—the sole stat that determines whether or not we’ll trigger her BE—and the majority of the upcoming choices are complete landmines.

Now, we’re finally heading into the moment where Selene decides to confess her feelings to Iris! Because the confession has a lot of interesting things going on, I also wanted to do a brief breakdown and commentary of what happens. For their date, Selene chooses an upscale French restaurant that’s known for being a popular date spot for couples. When she arrives, Iris is already waiting for her.

Choice 1:

• Greet her
• Congratulate her (❤️ + 3%)

This choice should be obvious. Selene invites Iris on a date to celebrate her getting hired as a full-time employee, so naturally Iris would be appreciative that her efforts have been acknowledged.

Honestly, this date is quite hilarious. Iris spends a bit of time teasing Selene, implying that she already knows what her intentions are.

Iris is an incredibly keen person, and she’s the type who will always head into any situation prepared. Especially since she spends so much time learning how to socialize and fit in, I’d also imagine she took the time to look up this restaurant. It’s extremely likely that she comes in knowing full well that it’s a hot spot for couples, and she can’t help but seize the chance to make Selene squirm a bit by alluding to that.

Amusingly, Iris’s flirtatious behavior continues even after dinner as they take their post-meal stroll. She pauses their walk to point out that Selene’s lipstick has smudged, and she takes the opportunity to feel up her lips as she brushes a napkin over her mouth.

Since we’re playing from Selene’s point of view, we as the player actually have no idea if what Iris is saying is true or not. It’s funny to think that it’s entirely possible she could’ve just used the smudged lipstick as an excuse to touch Selene. Idle speculation aside, with their close proximity, there’s now an incredible amount of romantic tension in the air. Selene, inspired by liquid courage, can’t help but reach out toward Iris as well, touching her face.

And of course, Selene’s effect on Iris is instant. For the second time since the drunk date event, we see Iris blush again!

Choice 2:

• I just wanted to touch you
• You're pretty (??? + 5%)

Following the theme of validating Iris’s mask, choosing to tell her that she’s pretty is also another obvious way of boosting her ego. Iris is someone who has spent a painstaking amount of time differentiating herself from who she used to be: a poor girl from a rural town to someone who looks like a glamorous city girl now. 

Even though we don’t find out much about her past until the final revelations of the epilogue, the writing in the base route still does an excellent job at foreshadowing how hard Iris has tried to fit in. She’s changed so much from her past self that even Megan isn’t able to instantly clock that the woman, who had visited her on campus asking for money, isn’t just a random relative but her actual mother.

Indeed, at first glance Iris comes off as chic, fashionable senior student who’s kind and composed and probably comes from a nice upper-middle class family. She does such a good job at hiding her past and family background that no one around her has any idea about the truth of her troubled childhood and upbringing—least of all Selene.

For Selene to openly acknowledge that she thinks Iris is pretty… Well, of course Iris would cling onto the words of someone she both admires and envies. Selene is like the ideal rich city girl to her: kind, thoughtful, full of life and love.

Iris thinks so highly of Selene. Receiving praise from a girl like her means that she’s made it, that she’s no longer seen as some scrappy outcast from an impoverished world but someone who actually can walk alongside the likes of those wealthy city folks. Again, validating her mask—telling her she’s pretty—makes her want to cling onto that feeling.

Bafflingly, though, Selene’s return of Iris’s affections seems to cause Iris to retreat back. Despite initiating much of the flirting during dinner, clearly finding enjoyment in Selene’s flustered reactions, Iris now appears to be withdrawing, distancing herself emotionally. 

This inexplicable change in behavior throws Selene into a state of unease, impelling her to confess while she’s still emboldened by alcohol. 

Frustratingly, Iris continues to be cold. She’s quick to discount Selene’s confession as an impulse of being inebriated and that she lacks the mental faculties to think clearly for herself. Even though Iris had flagrantly hit on Selene earlier, it’s like she’s frantically doing damage control now, acting as though Selene’s romantic feelings toward her aren’t a natural consequence of her own words and actions. She’s being incredibly mixed signals about her intentions.

Thankfully, in the end, Selene’s confession is successful! Iris agrees to date her, and they finally begin their relationship together. Yayyy.

Though, despite the fact that they’re now official, they already hit a slight roadblock before the date even ends. In Selene’s attempt to go in for a hug, Iris somehow procures a carton of milk from her bag and shoves it in Selene’s hand before they part ways, almost as an attempt to dodge the embrace.

And Selene’s monologue at the end is quite foreboding…

In truth, the whole confession scene feels tense and worrisome for a reason, and Selene is completely justified in her insecurities. Iris never actually confirms that she likes Selene back—she only agrees to go out with her. That, on top of her initial denial of Selene’s feelings and her avoidance of the hug, is a total red flag for something disastrous to happen later on.

The confession from Iris’s point of view

For a long while, I’ve been trying to piece together Iris’s perspective of the confession. While the date seems incredibly anxiety-inducing from Selene’s end, what in the world is actually going through Iris’s head during this scene? What exactly is it that compels her to flirt so audaciously with Selene but makes her pull back as soon as Selene reciprocates? Does she even like Selene?

Before the epilogue was released, I’d concluded this: that at this point Iris simply thinks of Selene as the cute xuemei she likes having fun with without any pressure of commitment. She’d flirted recklessly with her without considering the consequences—that Selene might actually develop feelings for her—and so she agrees to date Selene out of a sense of obligation. After realizing she’d led Selene on, it’s only right that she makes up for it by going out with her, right?

When Iris and Selene say their goodbyes at the end of the date, what stood out to me was how Iris doesn’t look back to Selene once. On her walk back home, I imagined her totally dissociating about accidentally getting a girlfriend, thoughts flying through her mind like: anyway, she likes Selene’s reactions when she teases her; Selene is cute; maybe it won’t be so bad?

But after the epilogue… a lot of her hesitance in accepting Selene’s confession starts to make sense in an entirely different way—in a manner that’s not so cynical at all. The parts that transformed how I think of Iris’s mindset here come from these lines in her epilogue:

The epilogue is actually the first time we actually get any real insight into how Iris views Selene and why she likes her. As established throughout Iris’s route, Selene really is considerate of Iris, always offering to help when she needs it, even without being asked. It turns out that Selene’s kind and attentive nature hasn’t gone unnoticed, and we’re finally getting confirmation that Iris really does admire and appreciate that about her.

From the very beginning, Iris has always liked Selene. Iris paying special attention to her, agreeing to go on outings with her when she wouldn’t for others, making baked goods specifically for her, etc.—these aren’t acts of thoughtless flirtation. These are gestures born from genuine fondness, because she’s always wanted Selene to like her back.

But Iris’s feelings for Selene and how she feels about herself are at odds with each other. Her avoidance and distance are simply a result of her feeling unworthy of Selene’s affection, because deep down Iris harbors extreme self-confidence issues. When we consider her reluctance at accepting Selene’s confession, her disbelief now seems more like confusion, or a panic response that Selene might actually like someone like her.

When Selene expresses her stark relief at Iris agreeing to go out with her, Iris responds in a fondly exasperated way.

When I’d first read this line, I thought Iris’s words were simply a deflection of how mixed signals she was just being—a soft attempt at trying to convince Selene into thinking her insecurities are unfounded. Now, I realize her response is more like astonishment that Selene could even believe that Iris would reject her. After all, to Iris, Selene is a total catch. Who wouldn’t want to date her? Iris is just in shock that Selene actually wants someone like her.

Now, I still believe that Iris is fully dissociating on her walk back home. But rather than feeling annoyed at herself about getting a girlfriend, I now imagine she’s wondering how in the world she’s going to keep up her perfect mask in front of Selene, or how she’s going to afford going on dates with her, or how she’s going to juggle her time between work and family and their relationship. Either way, she’s committed now, and all she can do is try her best.

And indeed, although their relationship proceeds well enough, Selene is quick to realize that Iris is an incredibly busy person, making their time spent together few and far between. She also texts Selene even less frequently than when they weren’t dating—even ends phone calls before Selene is finished speaking. It’s really not looking good.

Almost in an attempt to console herself, Selene reminisces about a past date they have in which Iris teases her, saying she does miss Selene despite her busy schedule. Here, Iris teases a flustered Selene and asks her, “Are you still not used to being my girlfriend?”

Choice 3:

• I've been ready for a long time (??? + 5%)
• You adapt quickly, xuejie

If we choose “I've been ready for a long time”, it affirms to Iris that Selene has actually already harbored feelings for her for a while now, even before her confession. All her time spent with Selene thus far, showing off her perfect façade, has been an investment well spent. Who wouldn’t love that little boost to their ego? That’s a feeling Iris wants to keep.

Unfortunately, even this date gets cut short by a work call, and Selene is once again left feeling neglected.

The Dreaded Breakup

And of course, we can’t discuss Iris without talking about the brutal, painful, iconic breakup scene where she absolutely shatters Selene’s heart.

Iris’s increasingly distant behavior is not a surprise. Between all the sweet moments they have shared together, Iris’s inexplicable coldness has always been present throughout their whole friendship. There are times where she outright never texts Selene back,

occasions where she distances herself emotionally,

and instances where it seems she outright avoids Selene’s affection.

Hence, Iris’s aloofness when she and Selene actually start dating isn’t entirely a shock—it’s an established pattern that’s been pervasive this entire time. What is a shock, though, is when we discover that Iris has actually restricted Selene’s viewing access to her social media posts. This terrible revelation is the spark for Selene to finally confront Iris in what will become the most soul-crushing part of their love story.

When they meet at the café, Iris greets Selene with a smile, acting like nothing is wrong.

But Selene isn’t having any of it. Being so attuned to Iris’s mask, she sees right through it and cuts right to the chase. She confronts Iris about all her ignored texts, to which Iris provides a cursory answer about how she’s just been busy and that she’s just working hard for their future.

Choice 4:

• Ask (❤️ + 3%)
• Express doubt

Even though Selene is still clearly pissed and unconvinced by Iris’s response, we can choose to offer a bit more leeway in the interrogation, which Iris takes more kindly than if Selene outright voices her disbelief.

We all know how this breakup goes. Iris dishes out some incredibly brutal, traumatizing lines that irrevocably destroys Selene’s self-esteem. She criticizes Selene’s texts as annoyances. She admits preferring to do things by herself, rather than going on dates. She doesn’t enjoy activities that couples normally do together.

We discover just how exhausted and resentful Iris really is having to be in a relationship with her. Even though her coldness isn’t a new thing, her harshness and unrestrained cruelty are extremely shocking. To think she’d harbored these sorts of thoughts all along… It seems that Iris really never liked Selene at all.

But in reality, that can’t be further from the truth.

How the epilogue recontextualizes the breakup

One of the major takeaways from the epilogue is learning just how poor Iris actually is. Throughout Iris’s base route, we get the vague sense that she is stretched thin from supporting her family monetarily, but we don’t really quite get the extent of their financial troubles or how much they actually rely on her.

Examining wealth through the conceptualization of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we can think of money as a resource. It can buy things like food and shelter, satisfying the conditions for physiological and safety needs. As we ascend the hierarchy, money also provides opportunities, especially in the sense of networking. Through group activities facilitated by money—things like dining with classmates or coworkers, or staying out late drinking at a karaoke bar—individuals are able to grow close and form intimate relationships, satisfying the conditions for belonging and love.

Unfortunately, if you’re poor, you miss out on those sorts of opportunities to connect with others. For Iris, that sort of reality is obvious to her. Megan’s observation that Iris doesn’t usually go out on outings is an intentional hint not only toward her distant nature, but also toward her lack of resources to even spend time with others.

Iris describes her parents as poor construction workers who constantly suffer through health problems. Her childhood home was wet and damp. Her family is in debt. All of these conditions point to her family being insecure in their base needs—and of course, as the eldest daughter with a decently paying office job, it’s her duty to support them and send back money. Selflessly, she sacrifices her psychological needs (intimacy with others) to aid in their physiological and safety needs (health and security). With half her paycheck gone and the rest going into rent and food, Iris does not have the means to socialize frivolously with others, let alone go on dates.

Suddenly with all of this new context, Selene expressing doubt at Iris during the breakup scene seems incredibly harsh.

Selene’s skepticism is warranted, of course. Reading through this scene for the first time, Iris’s words really do seem like shoddy excuses spoken thoughtlessly as an attempt to placate Selene. But now that we understand her background, it’s clear she’s just… telling the truth. She genuinely wants to be more outstanding for Selene. The more successful she is at her job, the more money she will earn. The more money she earns, the more opportunities she will have to go on dates with Selene.

Unfortunately, Iris hasn’t opened up yet about her struggles. She would rather suffer eternally and torment herself than let Selene know about anything happening in her life. To do so would mean sabotaging her perfect mask. If Selene knows who she really is underneath her glamorous façade, she’ll surely leave her.

Yet, when Iris gets backed into a corner during the interrogation, she starts to implode, spewing out cruel, abrasive words that suggest she actually hates being in a relationship.

Iris, at this point, is seriously burnt out. She works well past midnight working on projects for the company she works at. Her family hounds her for money. She can’t catch a break. For her whole life, she has always performed the roles of ‘eldest sister’, ‘xuejie’, ‘student council president’, and so on and so forth. But for the first time when she dates Selene, she now has to don the mask of ‘perfect girlfriend’. She desperately needs alone time to decompress—a safe space where she can just be herself, without worrying about having to perform in front of others.

As established in the official Q&A from Xso, we discover that Selene’s apartment is actually fully paid off by her parents as a birthday gift after starting university. Compared to a family that has always had to scrape by, counting every coin, her upbringing is worlds apart from Iris’s. Imagine the pressure of being a perfect girlfriend to a wealthy city girl who already seems to have everything!

With all of these new revelations, it becomes obvious why Iris needs a breather. She doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of having to match the love and energy of a wonderful girl like Selene. On top of her overtime hours, it’s just too much to handle.

This burden sets Iris on a downward spiral that ultimately destroys their already shaky relationship. She withdraws into herself. She stops texting Selene. She even ends up blocking Selene from viewing her social media posts because she believes Selene will get upset or offended if she spends her rare moments of free time by herself.

A detail that gets shown a lot through Iris’s route is how often she checks her phone, or how often she and Selene get interrupted by a phone call. Iris spits out that Selene's messages are ‘meaningless’ and ‘unimportant’, because to her, random texts about mundane things from her girlfriend are less urgent than a call from her parents about a financial emergency, or a text from her boss telling her she has to attend a mandatory video conference with overseas business partners at 3am.

Perhaps inadvertently, Iris actually voices out her true fear during this scene:

At the crux of it all, Iris lashing out is not just a natural consequence of her resentment boiling over, but also a form of self-destructive behavior. She is deathly afraid of Selene getting close to her and discovering who she really is behind her mask: just a poor girl from the country who has construction workers for parents and who never had a proper home growing up. She’s always had to struggle. This suffering is something she is used to, but a wealthy city girl like Selene could never understand. It’s better to cast Selene away first, before she realizes who she truly is.

Iris digs herself deeper and deeper the more she speaks. Her referring to ‘little things’ presumably means things like going on dates, giving gifts, sending silly texts, etc. All of these activities involve time and money—resources she barely has to spare given her lack of wealth. Of course she would feel uncomfortable participating, because she feels like she can’t do her best. Iris wants to be perfect, always. If she can’t be an adequate partner, then she can’t be Selene’s perfect girlfriend. She would rather avoid any chances at failure than do a half-baked job.

What Iris doesn't truly understand yet is that her discomfort in dating doesn’t mean that she dislikes Selene or that she doesn’t want to be with her. She simply confuses her shame, irritation, and resentment for dislike. It’s why she comes to believe that they are incompatible.

That’s why, when Selene questions if Iris even likes her, Iris’s reaction is surprise, uncertainty, and bewilderment all at once. She hesitates in her response because not liking Selene isn’t something she’s actually considered. She’s confused and caught off guard. In actuality, she does like Selene, but she just hasn’t reconciled her romantic feelings with the crushing weight of exhaustion, inferiority, and resentment that she has to endure by being with her.

Thus, Iris self-sabotages to protect herself—her ego and her mask—but in doing so, she breaks her own heart along with Selene’s.

The Critical Branch Choices

So at long last—we arrive at the dialogue choices presented after the breakup. Up until now, if we’ve selected every single option that could give “???” points, we’d have exactly 50%, which does trigger the BE. But let’s assume that most players will have a decent margin of error before reaching that point of no return. Hence, the choices from here on out are incredibly important in determining whether or not we’ll reach Iris’s HE or BE.

In the scene immediately after the breakup, Selene recounts the conversation with Megan at the school campus. As any best friend would, Megan becomes totally aghast and angry on Selene’s behalf. She’s quick to pin Iris as an individual with avoidant attachment style—someone who becomes aloof as soon as you get close to her. In true bestie fashion, she reassures Selene that she isn’t at fault with the whole ‘it’s not you, it’s her’ pep talk.

When Megan takes a moment to check how Selene feels, we’re offered a choice either to agree or charitably absolve Iris of some of the blame.

First, let’s go over the options that allow Selene to rebuff Iris. 

Choice 5: Blame her

• Blame her
• It's not her fault (❤️ + 6% and ??? + 10%)

If we choose to blame Iris, Selene expresses her grievances at how Iris had treated her. As is her right! Even though Iris’s feelings regarding her frustrations with their relationship may be valid, her actions are most definitely not. She hurts Selene deeply and terribly during the breakup, and there’s no question that she’s in the wrong.

Little do Megan and Selene know, Iris is just around the corner listening in on their conversation like a skulking cryptid. She likely hears everything they’re saying, and for some mystifying reason, she decides to walk right up to them, pretending that nothing is wrong and that she’s completely unbothered by what they’re saying about her.

They’re on school grounds, so of course Iris is going to present her perfect smiling mask here as she greets them. The funny thing, though, is that she really doesn’t need to do that at all. She easily could have just pretended not to notice them and walked away without bringing to attention she’d overheard them. But she doesn’t. For reasons that still elude me, she proudly announces her presence, perhaps finding some twisted satisfaction in watching Selene squirm.

Iris’s aggravatingly cheerful persona is only one side of her, though—the one that she’s comfortable showing to others. In the scene immediately after, we finally see what she’s really feeling.

This is Iris’s face as she forlornly scrolls through her and Selene’s old messages—the very ones she’d ignored throughout the course of their relationship:

Iris’s solemn expression reveals her true emotions. Rather than showing off her infuriating smile, she is sullen and pensive. In a rare instance where we actually get the perspective of the love interest, we find that her internal monologue is full of guilt, self-deprecation, and even yearning. She harbors immense regret over the breakup and how she had treated Selene. She calls herself ‘cold’ and ‘abominable’ and even remarks that Selene is probably better off without a volatile lover like her.

But more importantly, we discover that Iris’s feelings toward Selene aren’t just longing and remorse. Deep down, amidst her pining for Selene, we also learn that Iris genuinely does foster feelings of irritation and envy toward her. When recalling an interaction between them days before their breakup, she remembers Selene thanking her for giving advice on a work project and joking that she’ll continue to rely on Iris in the future as well.

But Iris’s instant, gut reaction toward the thought is aversion.

Even though Iris catches herself and finds herself taken aback by her own sudden flash of annoyance, she can’t help but equate Selene’s reliance on her to her younger siblings, who have always troubled her growing up. She’s the eldest sister, the caretaker. She’s always been expected to give and lead, yet she’s tired and stretched thin.

Iris’s revulsion is a result of her trauma of being the eldest daughter of a poor family in crippling debt. She’s had to sacrifice her own livelihood, education, and social life to help them stay afloat. She doesn’t want more people relying on her. Still, even though she knows that her thoughts are irrational and that it’s not Selene’s fault for wanting her support, she can’t help but feel disgust at the idea of being expected to serve as a role model for yet another person, even if that person is her younger girlfriend.

Yet her negative feelings don’t stop there. As her introspection continues, we find that Iris actually envies Selene fiercely for having a good life with loving parents. Even though we don’t find out until the Q&A that Selene’s apartment is fully paid off, Iris has always been keenly aware of the differences in their social class. She’s been to Selene’s apartment multiple times. She sees how Selene lives, with parents who can provide and care for her, with friends who support her and check up on her. Unlike for Iris, Selene’s life is full of love, security, and acceptance.

Despite being just a character from a niche GL otome game, these complex, intermingling emotions of adoration and resentment make Iris feel so fresh and real. The world isn’t black and white, and neither are relationships.

During the course of her reflection, Iris comes to understand that it’s entirely possible to resent your girlfriend for her wonderful upbringing full of love that you never experienced yourself, but also still cherish and crave her presence in your life. Once Iris finally reconciles these conflicting emotions, she realizes she really, truly is in love with Selene.

And now, Iris has to clean up the mess she’s made. Upon her revelation, she immediately quits her job on the spot and sends in an application to Huanyu. Shortly after, she does indeed appear at Huanyu—as Selene’s coworker.

But how successful their reconciliation is depends entirely on how Selene reacts toward her. And how Selene reacts towards her actually depends on the player’s influence. That’s the beauty of this game: not only do our choices affect how the love interests feel toward Selene, but they also shape how Selene approaches them in turn.

When Iris greets Megan and Selene at the office, she once again presents that irritating smile, just like how she’d done at the university campus.

Choice 6: Mock her

• Reply (❤️ + 3% and ??? + 5%)
• Mock her

Even though it’s only been a month since they’ve last seen each other, Selene hitting Iris with a sarcastic response sends the message that she’s quite pissed about Iris’s behavior and how their relationship had ended. There’s no ambiguity in her distaste for seeing Iris pop up in her life again, acting as though nothing is wrong between them. Seriously, not only is work a chore to begin with, but now she has to deal with seeing her ex-girlfriend every day?!

It doesn’t help that Iris is hilariously persistent, too. She texts Selene under the pretense of offering feedback about a work project, though Selene clarifies that she isn’t the project lead responsible for it.

In a calculated maneuver, Iris manufactures a situation in which she can invite Selene out to talk, without directly referencing the big elephant in the room. I truly have to commend Iris for her brilliance and creativity in pulling off such a bold move—as well as Selene’s self-respect in ignoring her, because I surely would have fallen for it. Selene is stronger than I am. She’s not pleased by Iris behaving so cheekily when she’d broken her heart just a month earlier, and she isn’t afraid to make her displeasure known.

Later on during their lunch break, Selene accidentally overhears Iris having a heated phone conversation in the bathroom. It’s clear from the sound of her blowing her nose that she’s upset and crying. It’s a world of difference compared to how she’d been acting earlier. Despite being miffed at Iris in the scene just before, Selene can’t help but feel concern and sympathy toward her now.

Choice 7: Leave

• Walk inside (??? + 10%)
• Leave

If Selene makes the pivot to leave, Iris still bumps into her. However, with Selene seeming unconcerned toward her, Iris immediately understands that her ex-girlfriend still isn’t in the mood to talk to her.

Right after this scene, we finally reach the branching point toward either the HE or BE. At this point, if we’ve managed Iris’s hidden “???” meter well and it stays below 50%, then we are able to proceed into her HE.

Happy Ending Line

When we permit Selene to feel (rightfully) angry, standoffish, or even petty toward Iris, something very important happens: Iris gets the hint that Selene no longer tolerates the perfect mask she so obstinately puts up. Selene stands her ground, refusing all of Iris’s attempts to come onto her. She is firm in her rejection and offers no mixed signals as to how she feels about Iris trying to worm her way back into her life with that perfect, insolent smile on her face.

The result? Iris’s confidence gets shattered.

The effects of the breakdown in her self-esteem are immediate. In the very first scene of her HE, we see Iris getting scolded by a superior.

This admonishment is the first time we actually catch Iris being imperfect in front of others. She’s doing poorly at her job. Her mask is slipping. Selene’s rejection of Iris doesn’t just negatively affect her faith in their reconciliation, but it also extends to other areas of her life.

But as shown in the restroom scene, no matter how angry Selene is at Iris, she can’t help but look on in worry as she gets scolded. Megan catches on, teasing Selene for being so concerned about her ex-girlfriend.

For a long time, I wondered what exactly sets Iris apart in her different endings? Why is it that Selene accepts her in HE but not in BE? It turns out, the answer is rather simple: Selene can’t bear seeing Iris get hurt or feel down on herself. She’s naturally drawn to Iris when Iris looks like a sad, wet little cat. She wants Iris to rely on her. Even when Selene stubbornly denies her concern, her eyes still stray back to Iris.

The funny thing is, Selene herself in the HE is the root cause of that collapse in Iris’s self-confidence. In Iris’s next attempt at reconciling with her, Selene digs the knife even deeper.

This is Selene’s ultimate rejection of Iris. And now, Iris understands that she has failed in every aspect of their relationship—and as she believes, failure means she does not deserve love. Selene saying that Iris’s perfect smile ‘disgusts’ her is the pivotal moment in which Iris realizes that she has nothing left to offer Selene. Not even a smile that Selene can like. 

That’s why, during the following scene where Selene meets up with Megan and Cassidy for karaoke, Iris seemingly stalks Selene but leaves without trying to greet her. She truly has no intention of bothering Selene, wishing only to take a peek of her beloved before moving on with her life. Selene only barely catches Iris in her peripheral vision.

At this point, Iris has already accepted defeat. Imagine, she’s looking through the window of the karaoke room where Selene is and sees her surrounded by her friends who care about her and are all normal. Iris doesn't belong in her world. Selene is perfectly happy without her.

This self-defeatism is what sets Iris apart from her BE counterpart. Her confidence is shot. She no longer feels the need to wear her mask, because in her mind, Selene does not want her anymore. Not even her perfect side, so why would Selene want to deal with any of her flaws?

But this is where Iris is wrong! All Selene wants is for Iris to rely on her and to be truthful with her! When Iris finally lets her mask go, she becomes openly vulnerable. Selene instantly catches onto the change and feels compelled to chase after her.

Because Iris has unknowingly laid bare her true self, Selene finally finds the courage to confront Iris and ask those hard questions about what went wrong between them. Even though they don't resolve their issues right then and there, they finally connect. And that's enough.

Iris finally lets go and takes into heart what Selene asks of her: to be honest about her true feelings. She opens up about her insecurities. For the first time, she consciously permits Selene to see her imperfect self.

All it takes for Selene to want Iris again is for Iris to be real with her. Rejecting Iris’s perfect mask and refusing to indulge her is the condition to unlocking HE, because she finally understands that trying to be perfect and bottling up all her feelings is a bad thing. Through that realization, she finds the courage to ask Selene if she is willing to love her, flaws and all.

And that’s really all Selene needs. She accepts Iris’s earnest, heartfelt confession, and they live happily ever after.

The HE, though, is only one way their story can end.

Why ‘possessiveness’?

Before we delve into the BE branch, let’s talk more about her hidden “???” meter. We’ve gone over what it means and how certain choices affect it, but let’s explore why it’s possessiveness. Isn’t that such a strange trait for a character who’s apparently an avoidant attachment type? Why would someone who’s usually so caring and selfless be pushed into committing terrible atrocities just to keep Selene by her side?

These are questions that have haunted me for the past year since finishing Iris’s route, and when I posted my initial thoughts detailing my confusion and frustrations after finishing her storyline, one commenter perfectly summarized my bafflement:

(I am Chinese, and the following content is AI-translated)

I just can't wrap my head around how “avoidant attachment” and “pathological possessiveness leading to literal imprisonment” can coexist in the same person. 

So, how can “avoidant attachment” and “pathological possessiveness leading to literal imprisonment” coexist in the same person?

In actuality, while these traits sound completely contradictory on paper, Iris’s avoidant tendencies and her possessiveness stem from two different sources. Firstly, her avoidance is a result of wanting to hide her imperfections.

Iris is terrified of rejection. She’s experienced it before with her ex-roommate, a friend she considered close to her.

Iris’s reaction to being shunned due to her family background is a core wound that has influenced how she approaches all relationships now. Again—to Iris, imperfection means rejection; rejection means that she is unworthy of love. To avoid getting hurt, she keeps people at a distance and represses any desire to get close with anyone.

Instead of getting close to others, Iris puts her head down and focuses on what she thinks matters: becoming perfect just like all the other city girls so she’ll never be cast aside again.

Except Selene, unwittingly, becomes Iris’s sole exception to her rule. Throughout the course of the whole route, Selene manages to sneak her way into Iris’s heart, just by being thoughtful and considerate toward her where no one else has before: taking care of her at the infirmary, helping her with student council work for free, taking note of all her accomplishments.

All of these small moments add up. Little by little, Iris does slowly come to rely on Selene, even craving her attention and care. Despite Iris’s avoidant tendencies—her fear of opening up—her attraction towards Selene ultimately supersedes her anxieties, which is why she agrees to date her.

Meanwhile, Iris’s possessiveness stems from the overwhelming feelings of resentment toward her lot in life. In her BE, Iris offers one of the hardest hitting quotes in the game that best sums her feelings:

Throughout her whole life, Iris has never felt secure in having anything that she can fully call hers. Even her beloved cat, her birthday present that she loved even more than her younger siblings, was coldly given away just because she’d gotten an 80% on a test. Just because she wasn’t perfect.

Her parents giving away her cat is a traumatic core memory that has driven her to internalize two major things: that one, being anything less than perfect means that she is undeserving of love; and two, that in being imperfect, she will lose what she loves. To Iris, love is transactional. It is something that must be earned, never given freely. But as an eldest daughter and sister, she’s always giving and giving and giving, making sacrifices to her education and social life without receiving much in return.

Iris desperately wants something that she can call hers, without the weight of all that shame. She realizes belatedly after the breakup that Selene was that person for her. Selene had offered her so much love and care. Yet due to her avoidance and overwhelming sense of bitterness, inadequacy, and pressure, she’d cast Selene aside, not knowing that she would deeply regret her words and actions.

Bad Ending Line

Now, let’s go over all of Selene’s responses that can increase Iris’s hidden “???” meter.

Choice 5: It’s not her fault (❤️ + 6% and ??? + 10%)

Choice 6: Reply (❤️ + 3% and ??? + 5%)

Choice 7: Walk inside (??? + 10%)

See the connection between all of these choices? All of these options share a similar theme of allowing Selene to be receptive or forgiving toward Iris, even after Iris had so cruelly broken up with her. This version of Selene offers her grace, benefit of the doubt, and even concern—all actions that signal to Iris that she might be open to reconciliation. Selene outwardly shows care toward Iris still, and to Iris, that means that she still has a chance as long as she leans into her perfect xuejie exterior.

This misconception doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s the product of Selene’s actions the entire route, of her validating Iris’s mask, and of her challenging it. With Iris’s hidden “???” meter 50% or over, she becomes cocky, emboldened, and entitled to Selene’s affections. Indeed, in the BE, the difference between Iris here and her HE counterpart is stark.

Unlike in the HE, BE!Iris does not show any vulnerability. She does not get scolded by her superiors. She is popular amongst coworkers, frequently attending outings with them. She is ever the perfect employee at Huanyu, offering treats to everyone and always sporting her perfect smile. She is flawless.

As we know from Iris’s HE, her fake smiles—her mask—now unsettle Selene. This version of Iris dials that perfect façade up to eleven, and it creeps Selene out even more.

Bless Selene’s heart, though—she’s not entirely put off yet. In an attempt to have a proper conversation with Iris, Selene pulls her aside to the stairwell at Huanyu and offers Iris a chance to explain herself.

…But sadly, Iris fumbles her response. She refuses to answer Selene honestly, because that means showing vulnerability. It’s her avoidant side rearing its ugly head. Showing vulnerability means being imperfect, and as Iris has been conditioned to believe, imperfection means rejection. It’s the wrong mindset to carry, because Selene instantly feels repulsed by Iris’s behavior and spurns her.

Iris doesn’t want Selene to learn the truth. She doesn’t want Selene to find out she actually nuked her career path at her old job just so that she could get a shot at reconciling with her.

For a long time, I wondered why Iris doesn’t just text Selene like a normal person and ask to talk so they can hash things out. I just chalked it up to Iris simply being manic and unpredictable, preferring to prove her commitment and sincerity through grand gestures. But while at first glance Iris suddenly quitting her job seems reckless and impulsive, it turns out she probably put plenty of consideration into her actions before committing to her snap decision. It’s highly likely Iris realizes she can’t be a good girlfriend to Selene while still working at the other company, because the amount of overtime she has to do just doesn’t allow her the time or bandwidth to be an attentive partner.

If she joins Huanyu, however, she gets to see Selene every day without worrying about accidentally neglecting her. They would get to have lunch together, flirt subtly at the office, leave work with one another—all activities that they actually do together during the epilogue. Iris is perfectly happy to upend her life just for that chance. Her phone call with her parents in the bathroom right before the divergence of the HE/BE heavily implies that she had to take a pay cut to work at Huanyu.

Iris quitting her job is so significant because it’s one of the first times in her life where she acts selfishly for herself. She loves Selene so much that she would sabotage her own career prospects. Sadly, Iris would probably rather die than admit any of this to Selene. Had Iris only been honest, their conversation at the stairwell could very well have gone a different direction. But because she’s stubborn and prideful, Selene only sees the version of her that’s there just to mess with her.

Unbeknownst to Iris, Selene doesn’t want the version of her that is always perfect. She wants to see the real her, the flaws underneath. She wants Iris to rely on her, to tell her when she’s struggling or having a hard time. Unfortunately, BE!Iris never understands the depth of Selene’s feelings for her—or perhaps is unwilling to—and the rest of the BE plays out much the same way, with Iris constantly looming around Selene unsettlingly and Selene rejecting her advances.

Selene’s receptiveness at the beginning, combined with her repulsion later on, is the very definition of mixed signals to Iris. The result of Iris’s perplexity is that her mental state devolves into something absolutely delusional. She becomes entitled to Selene’s affections, thinking that as long as she’s perfect, she’ll win her back. From Iris’s perspective, Selene has always loved the version of her that is perfect, so why is she turning her away now? It must be because she isn’t perfect enough, right?

Tragically, Iris is not willing to look any deeper into what the real problem might be. The more Iris leans into being perfect, the more Selene scorns her. Suddenly, Iris’s formula for understanding how the world works starts crumbling, and she doesn’t want to accept that her understanding is built on falsehoods. The worst thing about this whole situation is that Iris knows Selene still loves her. When she confronts Selene about it, Selene can’t even refute her, because it’s true and she’s a bad liar.

It drives Iris absolutely insane to think that the love she wants now might disappear, just like how her cat had been given away when she was a child. Indeed, when Selene is just about to slip from her grasp, Iris completely snaps—enough that she goes so far as to drug, kidnap, and entrap her.

And accordingly… what is Iris’s grand pitch to Selene to convince her to stay by her side?

These words are the ravings of a madwoman who is so far gone that she believes that being a caretaker is the only way she can get Selene to stay with her. Iris resolves to live her life in servitude to Selene as a caregiver—the very thing she once said she’d resented—because she loves Selene just that much. By removing Selene’s autonomy and forcing her to depend entirely on her, Iris gives herself full rein to take control of the narrative that she’ll be Selene’s perfect xuejie forever. In being perfect, there’s no longer any reason to feel anxious in their relationship, or feel resentful like she did before.

This Iris puts Selene on a pedestal. To her, Selene is the perfect rich city girl who has always been kind to her, whose love for her is built upon her admiration for the mask that Iris has always shown. She has no faith that Selene wants anything to do with her flaws, that Selene would ever stick around with her if she’s anything less than perfect—and that is the real tragedy of the Bad Ending.

Outro

It’s not a coincidence that these choices are all stacked at the end. In total, these options give a whopping 25% increase in Iris’s hidden “???” meter—well enough that it could cause someone to breach the 50% threshold for her BE. And it’s easy to fall into that trap! Remember, traditional otome games reward players for being nice. That’s the typical script: be kind and attentive, and you’ll achieve your happily ever after. However, being too nice in this case, is a straight ticket to a drugged kidnapping and a locked bedroom.

These last dialogue options are very likely the deciding factors in a player’s progression into the HE or descent into the BE. Being at the finishing line of the route, they provide the strongest impression for what sort of behavior leads Iris into clinging onto relative mental stability, or going full on mad. In a replay, even if players don’t completely understand Iris’s hidden meter “???”, they can still use this information to form a logical conclusion that leaning nice or mean may lead to one ending or another.

The engaging part of this deduction is that it’s only a surface-deep understanding. Iris isn’t that simple. But it does pave the way for a greater depth of comprehension if we try to reevaluate her route through a new lens. As we now know, Iris’s descent into madness isn’t simply a byproduct of liking her too much, or being too kind toward her. It’s the result of testing or validating her mask, and ultimately for many, the consequence of being too lenient with her after the breakup.

It’s also important to emphasize that the “???” is actually benign until you reach that 50% mark. Raising it a few points here and there doesn’t keep you from reaching the HE unless you breach that threshold. Indulging Iris is not inherently a bad thing. Her persona as the perfect eldest daughter, the kind and helpful xuejie, and the charismatic student council president isn’t just a façade. It is her. She isn’t just pretending to be these roles—she is them.

Selene’s love for Iris is not disingenuous because she initially falls for that side of her, because these are facets of Iris that are intrinsically a part of her. Her stellar academic performance and her competence and her talent aren’t fake. Her accomplishments are real. She’s worked tirelessly to become someone exceptional. Iris may have the mentality of ‘fake it until you make it’, but she really has made it. It’s just that her self-hatred and lack of confidence make her feel undeserving of the praise.

But even though Iris’s perfect persona is what initially attracts Selene to her, it’s not the only reason why she falls in love with Iris. She also comes to love the part of Iris that is surprisingly childish, emotional, and imperfect.

Selene understands how sensitive and insecure Iris really is, but she knows that her girlfriend is brilliant. Iris is all the more incredible because she built herself up from nothing, and Selene isn’t afraid to tell Iris again and again until she really believes it.

Out of all the love interests, Iris is the most difficult to understand and pin down. But that’s because she feels so human and real. Her struggles are incredibly relatable to anyone who’s felt the bitterness of being poor or of being a pseudo-parent to younger siblings. Her trauma regarding her growing up shapes her relationship with love, and it’s also why avoidance and possessiveness—two conflicting traits—coexist in her.

When we first meet Iris, she’s never fully trusting of others. The world is cruel and unforgiving. It’s better to stay distant than to lose something you cherish. Precious things in life are scarce, though, so once she has something in her grasp—something she desires fiercely—she’ll never let it go.

But thanks to Selene, her view towards life slowly changes. In the HE, she’s finally found someone who can accept her flaws. She’s allowed to be messy and imperfect. Selene sees through her mask and manages to save the fragile girl underneath. With Selene’s support, Iris conquers her own avoidant tendencies and reveals her imperfect, true self. Like a stray cat who’s been drifting through life helplessly, she now has a place she can call home—and a love she can call her own.